"Revolutionary Army?"
Hearing Crocodile's words, Sora's brows slightly furrowed.
Though she'd been confined to the hospital room, she'd kept close tabs on outside developments.
Especially regarding the Revolutionary Army.
They made her feel that old fire burning in her veins again.
If she were still that young girl who hadn't married Vinsmoke Judge, she would have joined the Revolutionary Army without hesitation to fight for liberating oppressed nations.
But now...
She realized she might be one of their targets?
While she wanted to transform the Germa Kingdom into a place where people could live normally, happy lives, she couldn't erase the Vinsmoke Family's past tyranny or their plans to conquer the entire North Blue.
"Oh? So Dragon and the others are already here?" Michael raised an eyebrow. "They move fast."
Michael nodded, but keenly noticed Sora's troubled expression.
He stepped forward with a smile.
"My dear sister, don't worry. We in the Revolutionary Army aren't extremists. While we overthrow tyrannical kingdoms, we've also formed cooperative relationships with many peaceful nations."
"...What do you mean, 'we' in the Revolutionary Army?" Sora caught the key word in Michael's statement.
"Michael, aren't you a Marine Rear Admiral? How did you suddenly become part of the Revolutionary Army?"
"No no, sister, your wording is slightly off. It's not that I suddenly became part of the Revolutionary Army..." Michael spread his hands helplessly, "Rather, the Revolutionary Army was established through my efforts. Though I may not seem like much, aside from being a Marine Rear Admiral, I'm also the Revolutionary Army's Chief of Staff... though I'm not often with them."
"Is that... even allowed?"
"Of course not." Michael stood by the large window, his wings spreading wide.
"So as my sister, you absolutely must keep this secret for me. Otherwise, my Marine career is over."
With that, he flipped backwards, tracing an arc through the air as he soared into the sky.
"Tch, what a flashy exit."
Crocodile lit another cigar, adjusting her awkwardly long legs as she nodded to Sora before dissolving into sand and disappearing from the windowsill.
"M-Mom." Sanji swallowed hard. "Rear Admiral Michael is really our... uncle?"
"...Could you react any slower?" Reiju couldn't help but said.
*****
Outside the Saint Germain.
The fleet of the Revolutionary Army, led by the Wind Granma, advanced in full force.
Michael observed the Revolutionary Army's fleet from mid-air.
Though the formation was impressive, the ships composing the fleet varied so greatly in quality that it gave off the vibe of a ragtag force.
But this was only an issue when viewed through Michael's past-life perspective.
In reality, apart from the Marine's fleet, no other faction could afford to uniformly use standardized ships as war tools.
Most of the Revolutionary Army's vessels were either brought by those who joined their cause or sponsored by nations that had formed friendly alliances with them.
Though somewhat motley, the division of labor was remarkably rational and the overall formation was simple yet efficient.
Even in a large-scale naval battle, their combat effectiveness likely wouldn't be weak.
This clearly showed that despite the mixed equipment, the Revolutionary Army's overall military competence was steadily improving.
Yet as the Revolutionary Army's ranks swelled, Michael found himself stroking his chin in thought...
"Feels like we should copy over the Three Main Rules of Discipline and Eight Points of Attention."
[TN : "Three Main Rules of Discipline and Eight Points of Attention" were a set of rules and guidelines established by Mao Zedong for the Chinese Red Army during the Second Revolutionary Civil War.]
After all, the path he was taking required uniting all forces that could be united.
"What are you muttering about? What Three Main Rules of Discipline?" Crocodile walked beside Michael, giving him a strange look.
"What new devious scheme are you cooking up now?"
"...In your eyes, am I really that kind of troublemaker?"
"Obviously?" Crocodile rolled her wild, alluring eyes dramatically. "If you weren't devious, would you force me to turn back into a woman like this?"
"You're clearly enjoying it too, you bastard!"
"You're the one who told me I don't have a choice," Crocodile exhaled a puff of smoke with a smile.
"Since I can't choose, might as well enjoy it."
"You're really something else."
Michael shrugged, gave his wings a shake, and flew towards the lead ship, the Wind Granma.
Crocodile followed closely behind.
Upon landing on the deck, they were greeted by the Revolutionary Army cadres led by Dragon.
"Chief of Staff, the Revolutionary Army Fleet is ready for action!" Karasu waved at Michael enthusiastically.
"We can attack at any time."
"Ah, no need for an attack." Michael stopped the excited Karasu, then approached Dragon.
"The Germa Kingdom has changed hands."
"Changed hands?" Even Monkey D. Dragon couldn't help widening his eyes. "What happened... Wait, what did you do this time?"
"Ahem, well, I just helped the queen of Germa Kingdom stage a coup," Michael slung an arm around Dragon's shoulder and grinned.
"Now, the royal family of Germa Kingdom is no longer the Vinsmoke Family, but the Angel Family..."
"Angel Family? Never heard of it. Is that the queen's maiden name?"
"Right. Also, there's something else I need to tell you all..."
Michael glanced around at the Revolutionary Army cadres—Ivankov, Ginny, Kuma and Olvia at the forefront—who were all watching him curiously.
As Chief of Staff, though Michael rarely stayed with the Revolutionary Army, its cadres held deep respect for him as someone who dared to stir up trouble across the seas under multiple identities.
Whenever Michael acted like this, it was never about something small.
"What is it? Spit it out already, Michael!"
Among them, Ginny was the most impatient.
She couldn't stand people who dragged out their words like Michael!
If only she could beat him up... Too bad she wasn't strong enough.
"I need to reintroduce myself. My name is Michael—full name, Angel D. Michael..."
"Wait, what?" Ginny froze. "Are you saying the new queen of Germa Kingdom is your relative?"
"To be precise, my long-lost older sister," Michael said with a smile. "I knew she existed but i could never find her..."
"Who would've thought that by staging a coup, I'd end up becoming royalty myself."
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